A few blocks later, the two men disappeared into an office building. Tyson glanced at the sign on the front. It looked like the building was full of accountants and financial planners. Once again, he tried to put Randall's name together with Valerie's job. After he waited a few minutes, Tyson opened the door and walked inside. If nothing else, he could say he was lost.
There was no one in the lobby when he entered, and he glanced at the elevator. It still sat on the ground floor, so wherever they had gone, they hadn't gone up any flights. He heard a voice to the left and made his way down the corridor. Just before he turned a corner, he heard shouting just ahead. He shrank back against the wall and inched his way forward until he could peek around the wall.
One of the men he had followed had another man half his size by the scruff of the neck, a man who apparently had screwed up some of the financials. They were arguing about money, and the smaller man suddenly received a right hook and dropped to the floor like a sack of flour.
These guys really are like the mafia. They don't just dress the part.
As Ty watched, the two men continued to beat and stomp the bookkeeper. Tyson thought about intervening, but he didn't want to give away his existence until he knew what the score was.
One of the men grabbed a set of car keys. "You won't be needing Randall's car anymore. You can consider your position within the organization terminated."
The bookkeeper pushed himself up and backed into the corner. "I didn't mean to screw up the program."
"You're lucky he didn't tell us to kill you. You just need to keep your mouth shut and disappear, and you might live until your next birthday."
Tyson rolled his eyes. These guys obviously watched too many movies. He backed up as they came out of the office and ducked into another office. He peeked through the door as they passed.
"Let's take it for a spin. Randall will never know, and we never get to drive the thing."
The other guy chuckled. "Now or never. What Randall doesn't know won't hurt him. We just need to be quick about it."
Tyson followed them to the parking garage where they climbed into an Aston Martin. Tyson had to appreciate the beauty of the car even though he preferred pickup trucks himself. The two squealed the tires as they exited the garage and sped up the street.
Not to be outdone, Tyson hurried behind the building and shifted. He rose until he was a safe height that he wouldn't be spotted, and it only took him a minute to find the car. They were headed out into a more rural area outside of the city. Once they hit a back road, they opened the car up and got a little speed built up.
Tyson flew overhead waiting for his opening. Once they were away from traffic and on a desolate section of road, Tyson let out a stream of dragon breath and felled a huge oak tree into the road, right in front of the Aston Martin.
He watched as the driver tried in vain to stop, but the car crashed into the trunk of the tree blocking their path. Even at his altitude, Tyson heard the force of the impact and the grinding of metal. He chuckled to himself as the two men climbed out, seemingly unhurt, but in a world of shit when they had to explain what they were doing out there in the first place.
Now that his little bit of fun was over, he dipped his wing and turned toward home. He had no idea what the situation was, and now that he had seen for himself, he was more confused. He couldn't fix what he didn't know was broken, and he had a lot riding on the whole situation.
Most importantly, he had to live up to Londyn's expectations that he could fix everything and make it right. He had every intention of doing just that. He knew it was a dangerous thing that in a very short time, he had gotten extremely attached to the little girl, and he wanted to put a permanent smile on her face, no matter whose ass he needed to kick.
In the meantime, he and Valerie had some serious chatting to do. Something was very wrong, and it was about time that she told him the whole story of her life so he could figure out what it was.
Chapter Fifteen: Chapter 15 Title
Valerie Blanchette Kenway
Valerie stared at Tyson like he'd grown two heads. "You went to my house?" She pivoted on her heel and walked away before she swung back around. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Do you want me to help you or not? According to that little girl currently making bread with my sister, you think I'm the only one that can help you. Am I, or not?"
She huffed out her air. "You're right. I just don't like you being in danger because of me."
"How was I in danger? I walked by your house a few times to scope out the situation. It's not like I went up and knocked." He paused. "And who are the dudes that are hanging around?"
She blanched. "His brothers were there?"
"There were a bunch of different men. I wasn't sure which one was Randall, but at least five or six total."
"I hate it when they're around. Randall is always more vicious and cruel when the whole group of them are together. I don't know why they have such an effect on each other, but they are really each other's worst enemies."
Tyson frowned. "I think it's time you told me the whole story." He took her by the shoulders. "Valerie, you know I'll do whatever I can to help you, but I need the whole story. No details left out."
"You're going to hate me," she whispered.
"Sweetheart, if I was going to hate you, we wouldn't be having this conversation. You hurt me and literally yanked my legs out from under me, but even at the worst time, I never hated you." He shrugged. "I knew there was more to the story, and now I finally get to hear it. All of it."
